The real hazards of hoarding with Dr. David Tolin

In this episode of More Life, Hartford HealthCare’s Steve Coates digs into the topic of hoarding with Dr. David Tolin, medical director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living, part of the Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network.

Hoarding disorder is surprisingly common and can range from tolerable to hazardous and can make the person suffering, or the people around them, miserable.

Dr. Tolin helps us identify the difference between messy and hoarding and sheds some light on how a genetic predisposition, previous life event, or even impaired cognitive function may contribute to the disorder. 

Who is Dr. Tolin?

Dr. David Tolin is the author of over 200 scientific journal articles, as well as the books Doing CBT: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Behaviors, Thoughts, and Emotions, Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding and Face Your Fears: A Proven Plan to Beat Anxiety, Panic, Phobias, and Obsessions.

Dr. Tolin has been featured on the reality TV series “Hoarders,” “The OCD Project,” and “My Shopping Addiction,” and has been a recurrent guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Dr. Oz Show.”

Learn more about compulsive hoarding

Hoarding Disorder Research

The Anxiety Disorders Center at Hartford Hospital/Institute of Living is conducting a study investigating changes in brain functioning after treatment in people with Hoarding Disorder.
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